“I felt really confident to enter the session”: a pilot evaluation of a co-designed speech pathologist and interpreter collaboration tool for aphasia therapy
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: PURPOSE: There is a growing need for speech pathologists to provide aphasia therapy to clients with whom they do not share a language or culture. This requires collaboration with interpreters. This study aimed to evaluate the co-designed La Trobe University Aphasia therapy Collaboration Tool for Speech Pathologists and Interpreters to determine if it can support their interactions to adapt and deliver aphasia therapy. METHODS: Four speech pathologists and four interpreters from a range of language backgrounds, experience levels, workplaces, and genders were recruited. Participants were divided into four dyads involving one speech pathologist and one interpreter. Each dyad engaged in a one-hour, online workshop during which participants role-played a pre-briefing session for an aphasia therapy case study, applying the tool as guidance. Participants were interviewed about their use of the tool. The data were analysed using Framework Analysis. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: 1) mutual engagement promotes active and productive collaboration, 2) engaging in adaptation can be complex and requires additional skills and resources, 3) time is a limited resource, and 4) the tool has multiple benefits. CONCLUSIONS: The tool can support speech pathologists and interpreters collaborating to deliver aphasia therapy. Further refinement would enhance the tool's useability and impact.
Source: Disability and Rehabilitation
Institutions: La Trobe University, Concord Repatriation General Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4414615311